Alex Baena (foto: Getty Images)
Villarreal's Alex Baena is now valued at €60 million after a stellar start to the season, but the talented midfielder dreams of playing for Barcelona.
This summer, Villarreal was open to selling Alex Baena for around €30-40 million, but the situation has since changed dramatically. The 23-year-old midfielder, who was La Liga’s top assist provider last season, has already registered five assists and scored once in just eight matches this season. As a result, Villarreal is now pointing to Baena’s €60 million release clause in his contract.
Despite the growing interest in Baena, it won’t be easy to lure him away. Numerous Premier League clubs attempted to sign him over the summer, but the talented Spaniard has one dream—playing for Barcelona. He has made it clear that he doesn’t want to play for any other Spanish team, as Atletico Madrid found out when they made an approach. The question remains whether Barcelona can afford him, given their current financial constraints.
It seems more likely that Baena could join a major club outside of Spain if someone is willing to meet the release clause. His contract with Villarreal runs until 2028, leaving plenty of time for negotiations.
This summer, Baena also played a key role for Spain at the European Championship in Germany, helping his national team lift the trophy.